Home stereo thru PC...what's the best way?

[Not 2 Techie]

Right now I have my old stereo receiver (rca's) plugged into my line out on my onboard sound (micron PII 450) and all of my computer sound runs thru the receiver. I am going to get (either build or buy?) a new home computer system and wondered what the best way of running sound thru my receiver. This way works, but I'm sure that it's not the best way to do it. I have tons of music ripped to mp3 and all sorted and catagorized like a big juke box and I really like my playlists etc. I know you guys must have similar set ups but I bet you're getting much better sound. My JBL speakers, i feel, are going to waste.

Enlighten me!

[pinipig523]

well - this is what you need to do.

instead of using just the regular output of your onboard - u might want to consider getting a GOOD soundcard - like the audigy2 or the m-audio revolution or the extigy (via usb though - so you may experience some lag if your pc is overrun by several large programs, but otherwise the extigy is fine).

i say get a good soundcard because you would be most gracious if you could run the output from the digital out (via digital coax or optic cable) - and hook it up to the receiver this way. you may need to make sure that your receiver has digital inputs/optical inputs though.

this way - not only do you get better quality sound - but also, you are able to send coded audio (i.e. dolby digital and dts, etc...) STRAIGHT to your receiver for decoding.

this is what i have done - and they sound great.

i have 4 yamaha floorstanding speakers hooked up with an infinity 12" sub - all to my audigy2's digital out via a yamaha rxv530 receiver.

[SpookyEddy]

I use a similar setup and it works well:

PC with SB Live -> Rotel Amplifier -> Mission Speakers or Grado Headphones

I am looking at upgrading my soundcard to an M-Audio Audiophile when I get some spare cash and I am in the middle of building a dedicated class A headphone amp (almost done but the project has stalled for a few months). However I am generally happy with the results.

Regards

ed

[Not 2 Techie]

Thanks for the input -- i'll let you know when I upgrade. It's nice to know where to start.